Augusta National officials handed Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old phenom from China, a one-stroke penalty during today’s second round of the Masters. Guan received the penalty on the 17th hole, apparently after being warned three times to pick up the pace.

Consider this: It’s the first slow-play penalty on the PGA Tour since 1995, or three years before Guan was born.

Tour officials have been inexcusably lax in enforcing pace-of-play guidelines over the years. So it seems more than a bit crazy for Augusta National — which runs the Masters — to suddenly put down its foot.

In the club’s defense, several other players reportedly were warned about slow play in today’s round. None of them received penalties (at least not yet).

This ruling will cause a stir stretching all the way to China — especially if Guan misses the cut by one stroke. He’s right on the edge, depending on how the rest of the second round unfolds.

Guan shot 75 today, including the penalty, after posting 73 on Thursday. If he makes the cut — as the youngest player in Masters history — it would count as a cool, inspiring story.

If he misses by one shot, this penalty will go down as a dubious Masters moment.